HISTORY

Fossil expert to host visitors

National Natural Landmark site is on her ranch

Carly Thorson is an expert in 400 million-year-old fossils that have been found at her family’s Indians Springs Ranch near Penrose.

by tracy harmon
the pueblo chieftain

Published: November 12, 2013;Last modified: November 12, 2013 08:53AM

CANON CITY — Fremont County was home to an ancient tidal lagoon 450 million years ago.

As the water receded, mud flats were exposed leaving curious creatures and their footprints trapped. Today, the resulting fossils are tiny marvels of a bygone millennia.

Local fossil expert Carly Thorson lives on the ranch that encompasses the Indian Springs Trace Fossil Site near Penrose. She will share stories and artifacts about the world-renowned fossils during special educational programs slated to start today at the U.S. Bureau of Land Management Office, 3031 E. U.S. 50.

Programs are slated from 9 to 11 a.m. today, Thursday and Nov. 18, 20 and 22; and 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19 and 21.

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The 40-acre site, located on private property, was designated a National Natural Landmark due to the well-preserved state of the 25 types of fossils discovered there. The site has yielded important finds from the Ordovician Period spanning 485 to 443 million years ago.

The trace fossils include tracks left by trilobites, armor-plated fish and other prehistoric creatures.

“Every year, geology groups from around the country come to visit Indian Springs,” said Kyle Sullivan, BLM spokesman.